Abstract

This study examines the use of Virtual Slide Images with the aim of assessing their efficacy and usability in comparison to traditional microscopy with glass slides for the Quality Control of aerobiological samples. Three glass microscopy slides containing samples of airborne pollen were digitised. Six counters from two laboratories examined the glass slides and their data were used to calculate assigned values and acceptable coefficients of variation (CV%) for seven pollen types. A total of 24 analysts from 12 countries examined the virtual slides using specialist OlyVIA software. Data from traditional glass and virtual slides were entered into tests for repeatability and intralaboratory reproducibility following the norm EN 16868:2019. Participants also completed a questionnaire reflecting on the efficacy and usability of Virtual Slide Images for interlaboratory Quality Control. Data from traditional glass and virtual slides were comparable but CV% were generally larger for virtual slides than glass slides. Participants who examined < 10% of the slide were more likely to produce results outside the limits of the study. The use of virtual slide technology is not for everyone and, in the current study, we found that opinion was polarised but it was interesting to note that there were no differences in response based on years of experience. There are advantages and disadvantages of the two methods, and we recommend virtual slides are used as an adjunct to glass slides for use in aerobiology Quality Control and other aspects of palynological training and assessment.

抽象的

这项研究检查了虚拟载玻片图像的使用，目的是评估其与传统玻片载玻片显微镜在航空生物学样品质量控制方面的功效和可用性。将包含空气中花粉样品的三个玻璃显微镜载玻片数字化。来自两个实验室的六个计数器检查了载玻片，并使用其数据计算了7种花粉类型的分配值和可接受的变异系数（CV％）。来自12个国家/地区的24位分析师使用专业OlyVIA软件检查了虚拟幻灯片。根据标准EN 16868：2019，将来自传统玻璃和虚拟载玻片的数据输入重复性和实验室内可重复性的测试中。参与者还完成了一份调查问卷，反映了虚拟幻灯片图像在实验室间质量控制中的功效和可用性。传统载玻片和虚拟载玻片的数据具有可比性，但虚拟载玻片的CV％通常比载玻片大。检查小于10％的幻灯片的参与者更有可能产生超出研究范围之外的结果。虚拟幻灯片技术的使用并不适合所有人，在当前的研究中，我们发现观点是两极分化的，但有趣的是，根据多年的经验，在响应上并没有差异。两种方法各有利弊，我们建议使用虚拟载玻片作为玻璃载玻片的附件，以用于航空生物学质量控制以及孢粉学培训和评估的其他方面。